Li Wei barely slept that night.
Even as his body succumbed to exhaustion, his mind wouldn't rest. He thought about his burned home, about Ma and Ying, and the strange warmth of the workers' quarters. He remembered the voice echoing through the hall: "Prepare! Miss Mei will arrive tomorrow!"
Who was Miss Mei? Why did everyone seem so anxious about her coming?
Before dawn, Li Wei sat up on his thin bed. The room was dark except for a faint gray line creeping under the door. He washed quickly at the small basin, scrubbing his face and hands until they felt raw but clean.
As the sun started to rise, the hallway outside came alive. Servants hurried back and forth, carrying fresh linen, trays of tea, flowers, and polished silver dishes. Someone was sweeping, another was arranging vases, and everywhere, voices called out orders softly but urgently.
Li Wei stepped out carefully, holding his breath. The senior maid noticed him right away.
"You! Li Wei! Come here," she called sharply.
He hurried over, head bowed.
"Take these flowers to the east wing," she said, pressing a heavy vase into his hands. "Be careful. If even a single petal falls, you'll be mopping the entire courtyard twice."
Li Wei nodded quickly. The vase was heavier than he thought, but he carried it steadily, moving through the halls like a shadow.
As he set the vase down in a bright, airy reception room, he overheard whispers behind him.
"They say Miss Mei is the master's daughter," one maid whispered.
"Yes! And very sharp-tongued. She hates mistakes," another added.
"They say she trained in the capital and has eyes like a hawk. Nothing escapes her."
Li Wei's hands shook a little. He swallowed hard, trying to steady himself.
After finishing with the flowers, he returned to the main hall. The senior maid was waiting, her eyes scanning every servant like a commander before a battle.
"Li Wei, today is important," she said firmly, her voice quiet but urgent. "Miss Mei might decide to dismiss or promote servants on a whim. Do your tasks perfectly. No rushing, no sloppiness. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am," he replied, his voice steady despite the fluttering in his chest.
A few hours later, the front gates creaked open. A polished carriage rolled inside, its dark wood shining like a mirror. Li Wei stood at attention by the entrance, his heart pounding so loudly that it felt like it echoed in the courtyard.
He stood still, every breath tight in his chest, as the young woman stepped gracefully from the carriage.
She was breathtaking.
Her robe shimmered faintly in the sunlight, pale blue silk embroidered with golden cranes ready to take flight. Her hair was pinned high with delicate jade ornaments, with a few loose strands softening her sharp, elegant features. Her dark, clear eyes swept across the courtyard, studying everything with calm, piercing intelligence.
She looked young, no older than Li Wei, maybe in her early twenties. Yet she carried herself with a quiet authority that made even the older servants lower their heads in respect.
Li Wei felt his heart skip as her gaze reached him. For a brief moment, their eyes locked, and something strange stirred in the back of his mind.
I… I've seen her before.
The thought flickered like a candle flame. But before he could grasp it, it slipped away, leaving only a faint warmth and confusion that made his fingers twitch.
Across the courtyard, Mei paused as well. Her sharp eyes softened slightly when they fell on Li Wei.
Have I… met him before?
The question brushed across her thoughts, quick and fleeting. But like Li Wei, she let it go just as quickly, hiding it behind her composed expression.
The senior maid stepped forward, bowing deeply. "Miss Mei, welcome home."
Mei nodded, her voice soft yet commanding. "Thank you."
She began to move forward again, but then she stopped suddenly. She turned her gaze back to Li Wei, her eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to read a hidden secret behind his quiet expression.
"You," she said suddenly, her voice clear and resonating in the courtyard.
Li Wei snapped to attention, bowing quickly. "Y-yes, Miss Mei."
For a moment, she said nothing. Her eyes roamed over his face, lingering as if searching for something she couldn't name. Then, so softly that only he might hear, she murmured, "Strange… you feel familiar."
Li Wei's breath caught. His lips parted, but no sound came.
Before he could respond, Mei straightened, her expression once more calm and distant. She turned away, her robe trailing behind her like a cloud at dawn.
"Prepare the east wing," she commanded over her shoulder. "I will rest there today."
The servants bowed deeply as she disappeared into the main hall, the echo of her steps fading into silence. Li Wei stood frozen in the courtyard, his thoughts a tangled storm.
How could she know me? Where could I have seen her?
His heart raced wildly. He pressed a hand to his chest, trying to calm himself.
Around him, the other servants slowly rose, whispering excitedly about Miss Mei's beauty, her grace, and her sharp mind. But Li Wei heard none of it. He could only hear the faint echo of her words in his mind and that fleeting, impossible sense of familiarity.
He had come here to work, to survive. But in that single, lingering gaze, he felt the first stirrings of something much deeper than survival ;something that might change both of their lives forever.
"I have to work hard from now on to gain her favor."